Memories of Ally World

"But as he broadened the new part of his mind, so he closed down a beautiful and fascinating part of the old - the area of fantasy. The more knowledge man gained, the more self-conscious he became about believing in fanciful creatures." 

- Julie Andrews Edwards, The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles

When I was a child, I was often so caught up in my imagination that my family would say I was in "Ally World". Though they considered it an amusing excuse for my ADD, I truly found that the world my mind captured was one of imagination and wonder. The likely cause of my propensity towards alternative reality was the books read to me and those I read on my own. I distinctly recall the evenings spent at the foot of my brother's bed battling alongside Reepicheep and Caspian through the medium of my mother's voice. With openness of spirit, I played the glad game with Pollyanna. With courage and reflection, I experienced the historical troubles of the eras of Kirsten, Addy, Felicity, and Kit in the American Girls. I flew with dragons, fought with sorcerers, trained with knights, met the great Whangdoodle, and explored Mr. Wonka's factory. Is it no wonder that I looked to my surrounding world to be more of the same mystical quality? In truth, I was not dissatisfied with my real world. I simply saw more to it than is usually seen. Through my readings and innate curiosity, I developed a knack for seeing pretend things for fun, such as an opening to another dimension in the dark gap of a bush, a genie in the rushing and bustling of a crowd, or even the smile of God in the clouds. 

I treasure that special time in my life. Still today, I am a creative and imaginative person, but as I grew to be less odd and leave "Ally World" behind, much of that part of my mind changed. This transformation is explained elegantly in my beginning quote from the great Julie Andrews. She was a hero to me early on from the days of Mary Poppins, but it was not until later in life that I read her wonderful children's novels. It is true that as we gain in knowledge and grow in age, so our minds change to focus on things nearer and more present and tangible. What will never change is my eagerness to engage in a good book.